Tag: new music

September 5, 2017

Tari Nelson-Zagar Violin Concert Sept 24

Tari Nelson Zagar at 1+1=1

We’re excited to have Seattle violinist, Tari Nelson Zagar, back in her hometown at Sound Gallery this month. If you attended last year’s performance by Tari, you know it was a rare treat and we had a full house.

In this performance Nelson-Zagar brings another evening of sound exploration to the gallery, using found sound, improvisation, and discovering new music conversations hidden in old treasures. You might hear jazz standards, a virtuosic violin concerto, or an old cowboy song. You might want to bring all the bells you own, too!

April 10, 2017

Diagenesis Duo World Premiere in Helena

Diagenesis Duo at 1+1=1

Thursday May 4th, 2017

Please join us for a world premiere of Different Kinds of Light, and more fabulous sound-magic. Diagenesis Duo performs at Sound Gallery on May 4th. Can’t wait to experience this performance!

Sound Gallery May Performance: Diagenesis Duo

Where: 1+1=1 Gallery 434 N. Last Chance Gulch
When: Thursday, May 4, 2017 … 7:00 to 9pm
What: from 7 to 7:30, complimentary wine with delicious snacks and socializing
MUSIC STARTS and the house lights go down — promptly at 7:30.

How much? No ticket charge for the concert. A pay-what-you-can donation goes to the musicians. All Sound Gallery concerts have no charge, but we gratefully accept donations large or small, so we can pay the musicians and tune the piano. We appreciate your generosity. Thank you!

Seating is very limited. We strongly recommend that you call, text or email us to reserve your seat(s). Call/text the gallery at 406.431.9931 or email [email protected] to reserve your seats.

DIAGENESIS DUO comes to Sound Gallery to present their latest project, Different Kinds of Light, a concert inspired by the experimental poetry of Jackson Mac Low. Mac Low was a pioneer in chance and open poetry and created poems that could be performed as music. Featured in the concert will be Mac Low’s Tree Movie, Young Turtle Asymmetries, 54th Light Poem, and Numbered Asymmetries, and a world premiere of Different Kinds of Light, a composition for soprano and cello by Marti Epstein which sets Jackson Mac Low’s 1st Light Poem. This combination of text scores, graphic scores, and contemporary music create a contemplative and unrepeatable evening of chance music and poetry.

DIAGENESIS DUO is Heather Barnes (soprano) and Jennifer Bewerse (cello). Diagenesis Duo has been performing together since 2010 and has been able to commission and premiere many new works for soprano and cello. Diagenesis frequently performs concerts that facilitate a dialogue between the audience and performers with the goal of building an empowered audience for contemporary music.

For more information, visit www.diagenesisduo.com

Composer Marti Epstein is also an active pianist and a devoted teacher. She plays prepared piano with guitarist David Tronzo in the Epstein/Tronzo Duo, is Professor of Composition at Berklee College of Music, where she has taught harmony, counterpoint, and composition since 1991, and is also on the faculty of Boston Conservatory.

For more information, visit www.marti-epstein.squarespace.com.

PROGRAM

Tree Movie by Jackson Mac Low (1961)
Five Young Turtle Asymmetries by Jackson Mac Low (1967)
Different Kinds of Light by Marti Epstein (2016)
54th Light Poem by Jackson Mac Low (1978)
Numbered Asymmetries by Jackson Mac Low (1960)

Yep. Sound Gallery in Helena Montana is one of those places. Come hear a LIVE performance. Original jazz. improvisational jazz. art-jazz. NEW MUSIC. and fall in love with it. and come again. and again. see you!

Sound Gallery concerts are …

… original, new, sometimes experimental music performances although occasionally we feature artists who mix pieces by other composers and musicians into their program. We have also featured poetry and spoken-word performances and hope to expand our offerings to performances of any kind that fit the mission of Sound Gallery. We appreciate all of you folks who continue to support live music and this venue for performing arts in an intimate setting such as our art gallery.

Call 406.431.9931 for more information about the performance, or to reserve your seat.

Don’t wait! We have only 48 seats total.

March 22, 2017

Syrinx Effect to Perform at Sound Gallery

photo ©Daniel Sheehan

Syrinx Effect at 1+1=1

Saturday April 15th, 2017

Please join us at 1+1=1 Gallery for another great original music concert. Syrinx Effect on April 15th. Last summer jazz lovers were delighted by Naomi Moon Siegel’s solo trombone performance at Sound Gallery. We immediately bought her new album, Shoebox View, and play it all the time at our gallery.

Welp. Here’s another opportunity to hear Naomi — this time in an acoustic-electric duo with music partner, Kate Olson. Together they are Syrinx Effect. They describe their music as “interstellar folk punk jazz.” Can’t wait to hear it!

Sound Gallery September Performance: SYRINX effect

Where: 1+1=1 Gallery 434 N. Last Chance Gulch
When: Saturday, April 15 … 7:00 to 9pm
What: from 7 to 7:30, complimentary wine with decadent chocolate desserts.
MUSIC STARTS and the house lights go down — promptly at 7:30.

Seating is very limited. We strongly recommend that you call, text or email us to reserve your seat(s). Call/text the gallery at 406.431.9931 or email [email protected] to reserve your seats.

Naomi Moon Siegel

Kate Olson

Naomi Moon Siegel, photo by Daniel Sheehan

Kate Olson, photo by Steve Korn

Naomi Moon Siegel

Kate Olson, photo by Steve Korn

Naomi Moon Siegel

Naomi Moon Siegel at Sound Gallery 2016

Come downtown on Saturday evening, April 15th — have an early dinner at Toi’s Thai across the street, then stroll on over, enjoy some decadent chocolate desserts and a glass of wine along with Naomi’s and Kate’s awesome edgy tunes. Be surprised. Be delighted. Be cultured. 😉

Here’s a blurb from the Syrinx website:

An acoustic-electric duo with endless possibilities, Syrinx Effect plays their own blend of folk punk jazz. They easily switch between dreamy ambient loops, catchy pop riffs and found sounds, all the while paying homage to their free improv roots. Naomi plays trombone with guitar pedals and Kate plays soprano saxophone with laptop and other toys. The duo got its start curating the Racer Sessions in Seattle, and has gone on to perform prolifically around the US, collaborating with many of the mainstays of the improvised music scene such as Wayne Horvitz, Robin Holcomb, Elliott Sharp, Bobby Previte, Stuart Dempster, Allison Miller, Rene Hart.

Syrinx Effect makes music that is authentic and expressive, employing everything from simple folk melodies to abstract, ambient noise. Each piece is a meditation, an exploration, and sometimes a romp.

Kate Olson

Just grabbed this excellent excerpt from Seattle’s SB Hopper blog — the author has a way of expressing what I’ve been trying to put to words since Sound Gallery first started a couple years ago. Here:

I’ve never regretted going to a jazz show. Each time I’ve left thinking that I needed to do that more often. And then several months slip by again, just like exercise. … You’ve got to be in the right mood, you’ve got to know a good place, and you’ve got to be with people who are into it …. There’s no need to be an expert. I can’t name a single track by Thelonious Monk. I think the trick is finding a place you like, making a point of going once in a while, and appreciating the talents of musicians for whom jazz is an art that celebrates tradition but embraces improvisation.

Yep. Sound Gallery in Helena Montana is one of those places. Come hear a jazz performance. Original jazz. improvisational jazz. art-jazz. and fall in love with it. and come again. and again. see you!

Sound Gallery concerts are …

Call 406.431.9931 for more information about the performance, or to reserve your seat.

Don’t wait! We have only 48 seats total.

September 22, 2016

Bob Nell Acclaimed Jazz Pianist

Bob Nell in Concert Sunday September 25th, 2016

Please join us at 1+1=1 Gallery for another fabulous performance of original music — this time, Bozeman composer and performer extraordinaire Bob Nell performs his own jazz piano solos.

innovative. tender. Unpredictable. Extraordinary. Sublime. Brilliant. Simply Great. Words and phrases used to describe Bob Nell and his music.

The MASTER is coming to town. Bob Nell transcends genre. He is one of the most gifted composer/performer’s to come from Montana. Music lovers of all stripes – this concert IS NOT TO BE MISSED! ~Bob Packwood

Sound Gallery September Performance: Bob Nell

Where: 1+1=1 Gallery 434 N. Last Chance Gulch
When: Sunday, Sept 25 7:00 to 9pm
What: from 7 to 7:30, complimentary beverage & snacks served.
MUSIC STARTS and the house lights go down — promptly at 7:30.

How much? No ticket charge for the concert. Pay-what-you-can donation.
Sound Gallery concerts have no charge, but we gratefully accept donations large or small, so we can pay the musicians and tune the piano. We appreciate your generosity. Thank you!

Seating is very limited. We strongly recommend that you call, text or email us to reserve your seat(s). Call/text the gallery at 406.431.9931 or email [email protected] to reserve your seats.

Sound Gallery concerts are …

Call 406.431.9931 for more information about the performance, OR to reserve your seat.

Don’t wait! We have only 46 seats total.

September 22, 2016

Sound Gallery Founder Honored with Award

M.J. Williams, founder of Sound Gallery in Helena Montana, and acclaimed jazz vocalist, trombonist and composer, is one of five distinguished Montana artists who will be honored in December, 2016, as a recipient of the Governor's Arts Award. The other honorees are Jack Gladstone, Neal and Karen Lewing, Rick Newby and Patrick Zentz.

The awards ceremony will be held on December 2nd, 2016 at 3:00 pm at the Montana State Capitol.I am so proud to say that I know and work with Willie! I'll be there!

February 20, 2016

Where Outside the Body Is The Soul

1+1=1 Gallery and Sound Gallery present our first performance of 2016

… an evening with two acclaimed Montana artists: poet Melissa Kwasny and improvising sound artist, MJ Williams

WHERE OUTSIDE THE BODY IS THE SOUL

A suite of poems by Melissa Kwasny with improvised sound by MJ Williams

September 29, 2015

Scot Ray Super8sonic Lap Steel & Film

Scot Ray

Brings a Super8sonic Lap Steel & Film Soundscape

to a Small Audience

Sound Gallery will present its first performer of the “Fall/Winter Season” on October 16th. Scot Ray, a multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, currently homesteads in a small mountain town in Southwestern with intermittent excursions to wield his slide guitars in a variety of odd and captivatingly obscure projects including Gutpuppet, Drift & Throttle, Roughnecks, and the Tee-tot Quartet.

August 24, 2015

Eric Moe Piano Concert in Helena

Eric Moe

Pittsburg Pianist/Composer Performs Solo Piano Concert

for Helena Audience

The Sound Gallery will present its last performer of the “Solo Summer Series”. Eric Moe is currently Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Music at the University of Pittsburgh an a world-renowned pianist/composer. More information is available at Eric’s website,

July 23, 2015

Cynthia Hilts Performs in Helena August 6

Cynthia Hilts

performing solo vocal & piano concert

for Montana listeners

CynthiaHilts is a truly multi-talented composer, pianist and singer. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and is the founder of a large band known as The Lyric Fury Ensemble. Her work is highly original and reflects her unique look at the natural world with a great jazz flare. She will perform her own compositions in her lively, audacious style at Sound Gallery on the evening of August 6th.

July 15, 2015

Tari Nelson-Zagar at Sound Gallery July 24

Tari Nelson Zagar, of Seattle Washington, will delight and amaze us with her solo violin performance at Sound Gallery. The concert starts at 7:30 pm July 24th in Helena, Montana. Sound Gallery is located at 1+1=1 Gallery and is the only venue in Helena offering original, new experimental music for small audiences. Please join us at Sound Gallery in the atmosphere of a fine art visual gallery, enjoy a glass of wine, local ale or fresh citrus water; sit back and experience a sound adventure.

Helena artist and arts-supporter, Suzy Holt, says “I saw Tari in concert at the Myrna Loy years ago and she knocked my socks off! Unforgettable!”